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Rugby side Toronto Wolfpack, owned in the Canadian city but based in the West Yorkshire town of Brighouse, has a budget of C$3.4M ($2.6M) and is "topping the League 1 table" in its debut season in England, according to Andy Bounds of the FINANCIAL TIMES. Starting in the third tier, the club aims to play in the Super League in '19, joining the likes of St. Helens, Wigan and Leeds. The Toronto Wolfpack, the world’s first transatlantic rugby league team, "is seeking to create a following in Canada and North America." Wolfpack CEO Eric Perez "fell in love with the game when he saw it on television in Gibraltar." He said, "Rugby league is the most exciting sport you could get. ... Toronto is an under-served sports market. We have six professional sports teams in metropolitan area of 6 million people. You go to London, there are about 20 pro football clubs." David Argyle, a mining tycoon who grew up playing rugby in Australia, has "bankrolled the Wolfpack." He said, "I can see expansion rugby league teams in North America in a few years, cities such as Philadelphia." The story has "attracted sponsors." The main one, Canadian budget airline Air Transat, is flying visiting teams to Toronto "for free once home games begin in May" (
FT, 4/14).
